All band members, Conchita Venderbosch vocals, Jelle Wunderink guitar, Michel Bruijniks bass guitar and Peter Doppen drums, are present in this interview and their answers have been processed as a group.
– JC Cherry is a newly formed band and how did you come about?
Our wish was to play more of our own work and we are currently writing our own songs. Our first single ‘Don’t Walk Away’, which we released in January this year, was very well received and we are of course very happy with that. Many excellent responses on blues sites and blues stations. A new album is being worked on and expect to be released late this year, early next year.
We have known each other for a while and have also played together in other bands. Corona was of course a tragedy and in the summer of 2023 we started writing and really started as JC Cherry.
– How do you go about writing the songs?
The lyrics are written by Conchita and the musical part underneath by the others. For example, guitarist Jelle has a certain riff and then drummer Peter and bassist Michel put a groove underneath it. It all happens in good consultation and it often arises spontaneously. We also like to play and make music that people like. Many bands that play blues are often the same, you already know what you get. Fine of course, but we try to give it a slightly different twist and hope to involve more young people through a nice atmosphere and varied songs.
Because we are still developing our own songs, a performance (tonight the third if I remember correctly) is a mix of our own work and covers of Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Tedeschi Trucks Band, etc., but in own implementation. The aim is to have more and more own songs. The style is based on blues, but it also goes to funk and rock. What is important is the feeling that it must have.
– The name JC Cherry still has a certain meaning, does it come from somewhere?
Certainly. Of course we had to come up with a name and that was quite difficult. There are already so many bands that contain the word Blues, so we came up with this one. Jelle and Conchita founded the band, which is why the J stands for guitarist Jelle, the C stands for singer Conchita and Cherry means cherry: The cherry on the blues cake!
– As a band member, have you had any specific examples or influences in your music?
Conchita: When I was 16 years old, I started writing songs in my first band and made an album with my own work. As a singer, influences include Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Beth Hart.
Jelle Wunderink: My favorite is Eric Gales and also Joe Bonamassa. It’s also because I’m still young and they are of this time.
Michel Bruijniks: First I played guitar and drums from the age of ten and then switched to bass guitar. My examples include Steve Gadd, Michel van Schie
Peter Doppen: the heavy blues rock and Led Zeppelin with John Bonham, The Who with Keith Moon, etc.
We are freelance in music. Then it’s time to get dressed and prepare for the performance.
Tonight recordings will be made of the performance and the band has been expanded with singer Diana ten Berge and organist Frankie Vriends, with whom they have already played in previous formations.
The set list contains nineteen songs spread over two sets.
They immediately open nicely with a deep funky groove in ‘Watch Me Move.’ Conchita has a wonderful stage presence and a beautiful, warm, deep voice. Not a high pitched scream, but full. The rhythm section is rock solid and the addition of Frankie Vriens on organ is perfect and you can also hear that in the solo. Jelle’s guitar playing is top notch, what a guitarist! This is also the case in the heavy blues ‘Love me Like A Man’ and slow blues ‘Mr. Magicman’. ‘A Man Like You is rocky and the ballad “Forever Young” is announced by Conchita and sung emotionally and is about the terrible disease Alzheimer. The emotion explodes in the climax. The same in the slow blues Ain’t You The Man’. ‘Weather Man is funky again with beautiful harmony singing from Cochita and Diana and the latter provides excellent complementary singing throughout the concert. Last song before the break is the uptempo and funky with grooving bass ” Always Get My Man.
Set two starts with the ballad “It’s You And Me” with more vocals from Diana and then things get going with the rocker “Just Got Paid” with bass solo, drum solo and top playing from guitarist Jelle. The classic ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ has a long performance, wonderful guitar sound, warm and full, and excellent rhythm and organ playing. An uptempo and funky shuffle is ‘Higher And Higher’, followed by ‘Slow Train’ with top-notch guitar work. Goosebumps! Rocking is ‘Rollin’ and then follows the own single ‘Don’t Walk Away, a heartbreaking love ballad with tapping drums, deep bass and goes to the climax. Top sung and played. The last song is ‘Tick Tock’, an uptempo shuffle with rock and roll influence. A nice ending to a wonderful concert.
